AN HISTORIC bowling club is facing a fight for survival after arsonists razed their clubhouse to the ground during a mindless midnight rampage.

Macclesfield's Parkside Bowling Club, which caters for 4,000 bowlers, is fearing for its future after thugs smashed their way into the hut off Bishopton Drive on Sunday, trashed historic keepsakes inside, before dousing it with petrol and torching it.

And in a final cruel blow, the culprits then set light to the empty petrol can in the middle of the bowling green and left the empty matches on a nearby bench as a sick memento.

Ten firefighters battled the flames for more than an hour with high pressure hoses but could not save the uninsured hut, which will cost tens of thousands of pounds to replace.

Macclesfield Police are treating the incident as arson and have launched an investigation to find those responsible.

And now devastated members of the self-sufficient club, which relies solely on members' donations and fundraising, fear it may be the end for an age-old tradition in the town.

They are left with just a charred pitch and the ruined shed to offer their 70 members and 4,000 competitive bowlers who use the club in the season running from March to September.

Handicap secretary Keith Nicklin said: "We are absolutely gutted that anyone could do such a thing.

"Now we have nothing. I don't know what we'll do or how we'll tackle this. To me, it's the end of a lovely club.

"It's taken a lot of people to build it up, some of whom are dead and gone. The place is steeped in history and now it's been destroyed.

"I don't understand the reasoning, they have gone in there and gone wild, throwing paint everywhere and torching it. It's absolutely mindless.

"A lot of elderly people use the club. Now they'll be lost. And all we have to offer other visitors is a pitch and a small hut, we don't have anywhere to store all our things."

Only last month neighbouring Parkside Cricket Club was burnt to the ground by arsonists in a similar attack.

And Parkside bowlers are only just recovering from a visit from vandals last year, which left them footing a repair bill of £1,000.

The club was built in 1930, originally for the use of patients and staff at Parkside Hospital. Over the years it has built up a tremendous membership

In October 2003, four young thugs broke into their hut armed with a crowbar and smashed up pictures, mirrors, pictures, chairs and costly office equipment.

The culprits, who were aged between 12-14 and lived on the Weston Estate, were caught red-handed by police, but escaped with just a warning, and an agreement that the parents and children would meet to apologise to members.

But club secretary Terry Jackson said: "No-one turned up. We never even had an apology in the end."

The club are also devastated that this week's fire has destroyed countless irreplaceable pictures of former bowlers, dating back decades.

Mr Jackson said: "These weren't worth much, but they meant a lot to the club in sentimental value.

"People would look at them, and recount old members and memories. They featured many bowlers who aren't around anymore. It's very sad."

He added: "Someone must know the people who did this. They threw paint everywhere and they must smell heavily of petrol. Someone must have come home with paint on their shoes."

Now the club faces an uphill struggle to get things up and running again.

He said: "We are in a real shambles here and it must be sorted by the start of the new season in April.

"The shed will cost £7,000 to remove, as it contains asbestos, and that isn't even taking into account the cost of a new hut. Also all the electrical equipment for the club was inside and destroyed. This means we have no floodlights, so we won't be able to play late at night, which is when most games take place.

Macclesfield Police are appealing for any information to help them find the culprits. Anyone who witnessed anything suspicious on Bishopton Drive on Sunday evening around midnight, or who has any information should ring them on 01625 610000 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.